Tarnished Gold
by Stanley R. Sludikoff filed under Editorial

Jaime Gold, tarnished?

I must confess that I have had real difficulty writing this piece. On the other hand, I feel compelled to write it.

In the past three years the poker world has been blessed to have had three great world champions who showed themselves to be gentlemen, competitors and men of honor who each did much to spread good feelings about playing poker worldwide. Of these three, Hachem, Raymer and Moneymaker, none has done more for poker than Chris Moneymaker.

Now we have a new champion, Jamie Gold, who is leaving a bad taste in our collective poker mouths, by showing us a side of his character that appears to be despicable. Based upon recent events, including litigation and issued statements, in my opinion, Gold has shown himself to be less than honorable, a welcher, and a man who is missing the qualities required of a champion. To me, this man is not a champion; he is a "chumpion."

By his recent actions he has disgraced himself, the World Series of Poker, Harrah's Entertainment, Bodog.com, and the entire poker world. He has done so by failing to keep a verbal agreement made with Bruce Crispin Leyser, wherein he promised to give Leyser half his winnings, because Leyser is the one who is responsible for the free buy-in he obtained from Bodog. com. Gold made a deal with Bodog that if he could get celebrities to wear the Bodog logo, they would give him the $10,000 buyin. Reportedly, unable to do so, Gold made a deal with Leyser to split his winnings if Leyser obtained the celebrities, which apparently Leyser did.

Having won the $12 million prize, Gold began waffling on his deal. Fortunately, Leyser had recorded a verbal conversation that seems to confirm their arrangement. Leyser then filed litigation and was able to prevent the prize payoff by obtaining a temporary restraining order from the court.

In his public statement regarding the litigation, Gold first tries to make light of his relationship with Leyser by stating, he is, "a person that he has only know since July." Then Gold offers his excuse and indeed admits there is some merit to Leyser's claim by stating that he wished Leyser, "had continued the parties' discussions," rather than filing litigation.

I must admit that giving another person $6,000,000 is a distressing thing to do, but, a simple decision for an honorable person. In this field, a gambler's word is his sacred honor. Of course, Gold is just an amateur and cannot be expected to observe the centuries old traditions of this poker world, which raises an important issue, "Should the World Series of Poker, change its format so that, like golf, it is far more difficult for an amateur to win?" Many pros are unhappy with the incredible number of amateurs who are not really putting up their own hard-earned money to play.

Many pros have said they will not play in this event in the future. So, here is a suggestion of how to accommodate all factions in any future event where the winner is accepted as the World Champion.

All professional players must be recognized as such, first. These players must then buy their way into the tournament, absolutely no satellites. The rest of the players may get in by satellite or buy-in directly. These people will all be considered "amateurs." The amateurs will play first until they have been whittled down to a number equal to the number of pros that will play in the event. The event will award a small portion of the prize money to the top amateurs, and all the players will then re-start the tournament with the same buy-in. Money prizes will only be awarded to half the remaining players.

Although this does not guarantee that a professional, who clearly knows the traditions of the game, will be the champion, it does make it more likely.

We can only hope that Jamie Gold will realize that his "honor" is more important than the amount of money he collects, and that he will do the right thing, as a real "champion" would. On the other hand, should Leyser's claim be proven to be without merit, we will apologize to Jamie Gold, right here, on the front page.